How to Navigate the Web with Internet Explorer


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Tutorial Home >Software >Office >Microsoft Office 97 >How to Use the Office 97 Internet Tools >How to Navigate the Web with Internet Explorer

  Intro

Internet Explorer (IE) is a Web browser you can use to view Web pages on the Internet. Not only can you view Web content, but you can also search for information, download files, view multimedia clips, and more.
  Step 1:  Log On

Internet Explorer starts the same as any other Office program. If the desktop has a shortcut icon, you can double-click it to open Internet Explorer. Before the program opens, however, you will be prompted to log on to your Internet connection (unless you have already done that).
  Step 2:  View the Onscreen Elements

When you open Internet Explorer, the browser window displays the default start page (the home page your browser is configured to load whenever you open the program). The program window consists of the familiar title bar, menu bar, and toolbar, along with scrollbars and a status bar. These features work the same way they do in the other Office programs.
  Step 3:  View Other Toolbars

Internet Explorer has two more toolbars: The Address toolbar enables you to enter Web page addresses, and the Links toolbar enables you to quickly access particular Web sites with a click of a button. Depending on your monitor's display mode, the Address and Links toolbars may share space in your program window. To make it easy to see the toolbars, I've displayed them as two separate bars. Your screen will differ.
  Step 4:  Visit a Web Page

Each page on the Web has a specific address, called an URL (Uniform Resource Locator). You can visit specific pages on the Web by typing in their URLs. To practice, click inside the Address text box, type www.mcp.com, and press Enter. You don't need to enter the prefix http://-Internet Explorer inserts this prefix for you.
  Step 5:  The Page Loads

Internet Explorer displays the Web page. You can now read the information on the page. Depending on the size of the page, you can use the scrollbars to view different parts of the page.
  Step 6:  Use Links

Another way to view Web pages is to follow links. Links take you to other Web pages, the same as entering URLs. Links commonly are underlined words on a Web page, but you will also find graphics images, buttons, or icons used as links on Web pages.
  Step 7:  Follow a Link

When the mouse pointer hovers over a link, the pointer takes the shape of a hand. Click a link to display its Web page. As soon as you click a link, the corresponding Web page loads. Some pages take longer than others do to display; the status bar keeps you posted on the progress, both in contacting the Web site and when the page is fully loaded.
  Step 8:  Use the Navigation Buttons

After you begin viewing pages, you may want to return to a previous page. Use the Back button on the Internet Explorer toolbar to return to the previous page. Use the Forward button to move to the page you were viewing before using the Back button.
  Step 9:  Use the Stop Button

If a page is taking a particularly long time to display, you can cease and desist by clicking the Stop button on the toolbar.
  Step 10:  Use the Refresh Button

If for some reason a page doesn't display properly-perhaps it's missing some text or a graphic-try clicking the Refresh button to reload the page.
  Step 11:  Return to Your Home Page

To return to your start page-the page that opens automatically whenever you open Internet Explorer-click the Home button.